Shelving structure



Aug. 13, 1963 Filed Nov. 17, 1960 R. H. MOELROY 3,100,460

SHELVING STRUCTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 f gt5 J WaW g 1903 R. H. M ELROY3,100,460

SHELVING STRUCTURE Filed NOV. 17, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 36 INVENTORY.ROBERT H. Mc; ELROY rates This invention relates to shelvingconstructions and particularly to an improved adjustable shelvingconstruction that can be assembled without the use of bolts, nuts, clipsand other fastening elements.

Various forms of knock-down shelving have been provided heretofore thatcan be assembled or disassembled or adjusted substantially without theuse of any tools except a mallet or other pounding device, but ingeneral these knock-down shelving constructions have necessitated theuse of at least a minimum number of bolts, nuts, clips or otherfastening elements which are easily lost or misplaced or are easilyinjured during assembly and use. The prior shelving constructions havealso in general permitted adjustment of each individual shelf but oftenthe adjustment was accomplished only with difficulty and by juggling aplurality of individual parts.

Accordingly, it is an import-ant object of the present in- I vention toprovide an improved shelving construction of the knock-down type whichcan be assembled without the use of bolts, nuts, clips, studs andsimilar fastening elements.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shelving construction ofthe type set forth, wherein each individual shelf can be readilyadjusted as to height on the supporting members of the shelvingconstruction by simply removing the shelf and placing it at a newheight, this being accomplished without the use :of bolts, nuts, studs,clips or similar fastening elements.

' Yet another object :of the invention is to provide an improvedshelving constiu-ction of the type set forth which can be completelyassembled or disassembled without the use of any tools except a. malletor pounding device and which when assembled is completely rigid andself-reinforcing.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a shelvingconstruction of the type set forth which can be readily manufacturedfrom sheet metal utilizing standard forming equipment whereby to providea simple and inexpensive shelving construction. I

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved back member,an improved side member, animproved shelf and an improved base memberuseful in the improved shelving construction of the type set forth.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be betterunderstood from the following description when taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings. In the drawings wherein like referencenumerals have been utilized to designate like parts throughout:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a shelving construction made inaccordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elewational view of the shelving constructionillustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the shelving construction of FIG. 1 withcertain parts broken away;

FIG. 4 is a back view of the shelving construction of FIG. 1 withcertain portions broken away;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view in vertical section through the shelvingconstruction of FIG. 1 substantially as seen in the direction of thearrows along the line 55 thereof, certain portions having been brokenaway;

FIG. 6 is an exploded fragmentary view on an enlarged scale showing therelationship among the back member, a side member, and a shelf;

atent r 3,100,460 Patented Aug. 13, 1963 FIG. 7 is a further enlargedfragmentary view in vertical section of the bottom shelf of FIG. 5substantially as seen in the direction of the arrows along the line 7-7thereof;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view in vertical section substantially as seenin the direction of the arrows along the line 88 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a view in horizontal section substantially as seen in thedirection of the arrows along the line 9--9 of FIG; 8;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view in vertical section with certain partsbroken away substantially as seen in the direction of the arrows alongthe line 1010 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 11 is a view in horizontal section through the construction of FIG.10 substantially as seen in the direction of the arrows along the line 1111 thereof;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged exploded perspective view with certain portionsbroken away illustrating the relation between a side member, the basemember, and the bottom shelf; and

FIG. 13 is a view in horizontal section substantially as seen in thedirection of the arrows along the line 1313 of FIG. 5.,

Referring to FIGQI of the drawings, there is shown a shelvingconstruction generally designated by the numeral 20 made in accordancewith and embodying the principles of the present invention, the shelving20 including a pair of upright side members 30 land. 50, a back member70, a plurality of shelves 80 including a top shelf SGT and a bottomshelf 80B, and a base member 100.

The side members 30 and 55 are similar in construction, being actuallymirror images of each other, the side member 39 including a body 32which is substantially flat and rectangular in shape having a rearflange 34 extending in one direction from the body 32 and substantiallyperpendicular thereto and a front reinforcing flange 36 extending in theopposite direction from the body 32 and disposed substantiallyperpendicular thereto, the flanges 34 and .36 extending the entirelength of the side member 30. Referring particularly to FIGS. 6 and 13it will be seen that the rear flange 34 has an integral reinforcingflange 38 thereon and that the reinforcing flange 36 in turn has areinforcing flange 40 formed integral thereon, the reinforcing flange 38being formed on the outer edge of the flange 34 and extending backtoward the body 3-2 and disposed on the forward face of the rear flange34'. The reinforcing flange 40 on the front flange 35 is also formed onthe outer edge thereof and extends back toward the body 32 on the rearface of the flange 36. The rear flange 34 further has several tongues 42formed'on the free edge thereof (see FIGS. 10 'and I I also), thetongues 42. interrupting the reinforcing flange 34 and being offsetforwardly by an oblique connecting portion 44 whereby the tongue 42 isdisposed substantially parallel to the rear flange 34 but offsetforwardly thereof for a purpose which will be more fully explainedhereinafter. There further is formed on the side member 30 two paralleland vertically arranged rows of tangs 4 6, the tangs being arranged inpairs and struck from the body 32 and including a support portion 48(see FIGS. 8 and 9 also) extending substantially perpendicular to thebody 32 and toward the other side member 50, the support portions 48 ineach pair of tangs 46 being disposed substantially parallel to eachother and being connected to a web 49 integral with the body 32, the

tangs also including retaining portions on the outer ends of the supportportions 48 and in front elevation present The side member 50 is formedas the mirror image of the side member 30 and includes a body 52 havinga rear flange 54 and a front fiflange 56 disposed substantiallyperpendicularly thereto and extending the entire length thereof and inopposite directions therefrom. The rear flange '54 has a reinforcingflange 58 formed thereon and the front flange 56 has a reinforcingflange 60 formed thereon and lying against the rear face thereof. Aplurality of tongues 62 is formed along the outer edge of the rearflange 54 and each tongue 62 includes an offset connecting portion 64which displaces thetongue 62 forwardly with respect to the plane of therear flange 54, the plane of the tongue 62 being parallel to the planeof the flange '4. Two parallel and vertically arranged rows of tangs 66are struck from the body 52 and include support portions 68 that areconnected to the body 52 by webs 69, the tangs "66 in each row beingspaced apart vertically equidistantly and with corresponding tangs ineach row being arranged in alignment horizontally as can best be seen inFIG. 3 of the drawings. I

The back member '70 is also substantially rectangular in shape andformed generally flat and adapted to receive the side members 30 and 50at each of the vertical edges thereof. More particularly, the backmember 70 includes a body 72 provided with a reinforcing flange 73 atthe bottom thereof and having a vertical'row of openings .74 (seeparticularly FIGS. 4, 6, l0 and 11) to receive the tongues42 and 62 onthe side members 30* and 50, respectively, the number of openings '74corresponding generally to the number of tongues 42 on one side of theback member 70 and the tongues 62 on the other side thereof. Disposed ina vertical row substantially centrally of the back member 70 and strucktherefrom is a plurality of clips 76 (see particularly FIGS. 7 and 8 ofthe drawings), the clips 76 being spaced from the body 72 by supportportions 77 and extending upwardly therefrom and terminating inoutwardly curved c amming portions 78, the clips 76 normally beingdisposed toward the body 72 and being resiliently bendable outwardlytherefrom resiliently to receive the flange on a shelf 80 between thebody 72 and the clips 76, the lower edge of the shelf flange restingupon the support portions 77.

A plurality of the shelves 80 is ordinarily provided in the shelvingstructure 20, each of the shelves 80 being identical inconstructionincluding the top shelf 80T and the bottom shelf 80B, and, accordingly,the construction of only one shelf will be described in detail with likereference numerals being applied to all the shelves 80, 80B and 80T.Each of the shelves 80 includes a fiat body or support portion 82 onwhich are formed four integral depending flanges including a rear flange84, a front flange '86 and two side flanges 88. Each of the side flanges88 has formed on the vertical ends thereof connecting flanges 90 whichare directed inwardly and lie against the inner faces of the back flange84 and the front flange 86, respectively, and are firmly secured theretoas by welding or the like. The rear flange 84 further has a reverselybent reinforcing flange 92 lying against the inwardly directed facethereof and the front flange 86 has a similar reinforcing flange 94lying against the inward face thereof. Formed on the lower edge of eachof the side flanges 88 is a reinforcing flange 96 disposed substantiallyperpendicularly thereto and extending inwardly therefrom towardtheopposite side flange 88 and the opposite reinforcing flange 96. Eachof the end flanges 88 further has a pair of slots 98 formed therein eachhaving a substantially rectangular configuration (see FIG. 8) andadapted to receive therethrough the web portions 48 and 68 of thetangs46 and 66, respectively,

the reinforcing flanges 96 further having an elongated opening 99forming a portion of the slot 98 (see particularly FIGS. 6 and 9) toaccommodate the passage of the tangs 46 and 66 therethrough as the webportions 48 and 68 enter theslots 98. V

To complete the shelving structure 20, a base member edges thereof, theflanges 104, 106 and 108 all extending in the same direction from thebody 102 and rearwardly therefrom as may be best seen in FIGS. 5 and 12of the drawings. The end flanges 164 have keyhole slots 110 thereinincluding a larger substantially circular portion at the bottom thereofand a narrower portion 112 dis 7 posed upwardly from the larger portionthereof, the larger portion having a diameter to receive the tangs 46and 66 therethrough and the narrower portion 112, having a width toaccommodate. the web portions 48 and 68 therein, whereby the base member100 can be connected to the side members 30' and 50 by engaging the twolowermost sets of tangs 46 in the forward row of tangs on the sidemember 30 and the two lowermost sets of tangs 66 in the forward row oftangs on the side member 50.

In assembling the shelving structure 20, the end members 30 and '50 arefirst assembled on the back member 78 by the insertion of the tongues 42and 62 in the openings 74 whereby to place the flanges 34 and '54 of theend members 30 and '50, respectively, to the rear of the back member 70.The presence of the connecting portions 44 and 64 aids in preventinglateral displacement of the end members 39 and 50 with respect Ito theback member 70 when the parts are in the position illustrated in FIG. 13of the drawings. If the shelving structure 20 is to include the basemember 188, the base member 100 is ordinarily the next piece assembledand this is accomplished by placing the larger circular portion of thekeyhole slots 1104 in alignment with the lowermost pair of sets of tangs46 and 66 on the side members 30 and 50, respectively, and thereaftermoving the tangs 46 and 66 through the large portions of the keyholeslots 110, after which the base member 1001's moved downwardly wherebythe support portions 48 and 68 are moved upwardly into the narrowerportions of the keyhole slots 110. The

base member 100 serves rigidly to hold and to interconthe openings 74 bythe action of the flanges 34 and 54 and the connecting portions 44 and64.

Thereafter the shelves may be assembled on the side members 30 and 5t)and on the back member 70, the top shelf 811T preferably being the firstshelf assembled. The general method of assembling the shelves upon theside and back members is illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 5 of thedrawings, wherein a shelf 80 is illustrated in dashed lines in thecenter of the figure and disposed between adjacent pairs of tangs 46 onthe side member 30 with the tangs 46 in general vertical alignment withthe openings 99 in the shelf flanges 96 and with the support portions 48in general alignment with the slots 98 in the shelf flange 88. Downwardmovement of the shelf 80 serves to place the tangs 46 and the supportportions 48 in the position illustrated by solid lines in FIG. 5,Wh6I'-.

in the tangs 46 are firmly seated in the slots 98 thereby to support theshelf 80 in the desired adjusted position upon the side member 30. It isto be understood that the tangs 66 and the support portions 68 on theside member cooperate in a like manner with the slots 98 and 99 in theother end of the shelf 80. In those instances in which a clip 76 is inalignment with the selected position of the shelf 88, the rear flange 84of the shelf is also rethe bottom shelf 80B may advantageously next beassembled on the shelving structure 20. Thereafter the selected numberof intermediate shelves 80 are placed in position in the mannerdescribed above.

It will be seen that .the shelving structure 20 has been assembledwithout the use of any bolts, nuts, studs, detachable clips or the likeand further that the assembly can be accomplished substantially withouttools, :only a mallet being desirable in certain instances to positionthe shelves 80 and the base member 19%] in operative position, althoughin most instances the use of a mallet is not necessary or desirablewhereby it can be said that the shelving structure 20 can be assembledwithout the use of any tools or separate fastening elements whatsoever.The shelving structure 20 is quickly assembled and can as quickly bedisassembled when desired. Further, each of the intermediate shelves 80can be adjusted as to height in increments equal to the vertical spacingbetween adjacent sets of tangs 46 and 66, the vertical spacing being,for example, 1 /2 inches from center to center. Once assembled, theshelving structure 26 is very rigid and furthermore is strong incomparison to its weight whereby to provide an inexpensive andeconomical installation of shelving. There are no unsightly bolts andnuts and as a result the shelving'str-ucture 20 has a clean-cut andpleasing appearance making it use ful in a wide variety of environmentsand installations.

Although there has been described what is presently considered to be apreferred embodiment of the present invention, it is to be understoodthat various changes and modifications can be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope thereof and it is intended to coverin the appended claims all such changes and modifications as fall withinthe true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A shelving construction comprising an upstanding enclosing backmember, an upstanding enclosing side member disposed at each of theopposite ends of said back member, said side members extending in thesame direction from said back member and substantially parallel to eachother, said back member having at least one elongated opening thereinadjacent to each side edge thereof, at least one tongue integral on eachof said side members, said tongues being disposed in said openings forinterconnecting said back member and said side members, said tongueseach including abutting means engaging said back member for preventingseparation between said side members and said back members in adirection perpendicular to said back member, a shelf member extendingbetween said side members and having downturned side flanges thereon,and at least one tang integral :on each of said side membersintermediate the vertical edges thereof and extending outwardlytherefrom toward the other of said side members, said downturned sideflanges each having a slot in each end thereof and receiving one of saidtangs therein for supporting said shelf member on said side members andfor preventing movement of said side members away from each other andfor fixing the angular relation between said back member and said sidemembers whereby said integral tongues and openings and said integraltangs and slots serve rigidly to interconnect said back member and saidside members and said shelf member and serve firmly to mount said shelfmember on said side members all without the-use of additional detachablefasteners and the like.

2. The shelving construction set forth in claim 1, wherein each of saidside members has a front reinforcing flange on the forward edge thereofextending. substantially perpendicular thereto in a direction away fromthe other of said side members.

3. A shelving construction comprising an upstanding. enclosing backmember, an upstanding enclosing side member disposed at each of theopposite ends of said back member, said side members extending in thesame direction from said back member and substantially parallel to eachother, said back member having at least one elongated opening thereinadjacent to each side edge thereof, a rear flange integral on each ofsaid side members and extending toward the opposite side member andsubstantially perpendicular thereto, at least one tongue integral oneach of said rear flanges, said tongues being disposed in said openingsfor interconnecting said back member and said side members, said tongueseach including abutting means engaging said back member for preventingseparation between said side members and said back member in thedirection perpendicular to said back member, a shelf member extendingbetween said side members and having downturned side flanges thereon, aplurality of tangs integral on each of said side members intermediatethe vertical edges thereof and extending outwardly therefrom toward theother of said side members, said tangs being arranged in twosubstantially vertical rows arranged respectively adjacent to the frontand rear edges of said side members, said downturned flanges having aslot therein adjacent to the front edge thereof on each side thereof anda slot therein adjacent to the rear edge thereof on each side thereofand'each slot receiving one of said tangs therein for supporting saidshelf member on said side members and ,for preventing movement of saidside members away from each other and for fixing the angular re1ationbetween said back member and said side members, whereby said integraltongues and openings and said integral tangs and slots serve rigidly tointerconnect said back member and said side members and said shelfmember and serve firmly to mount said shelf member on said side membersall without the use of additional detachable fasteners and the like. i

4. A shelving structure comprising an upstanding enclosing back member,an upstanding enclosing side member disposed at each of the oppositeends of said back member, said side members extending in the samedirection from said back member and substantially parallel to eachother, one member of each adjacent pair of said members having anelongated opening therein adjacent to the other member of said pair ofmembers, a tongue integral with the other member of each adjacent pairof said members and disposed in the opening of said one adjacent memberfor interconnecting said adjacent pair of members and including abuttingmeans'for preventing separation of said adjacent pair of members in adirec tion perpendicular to said one member, a shelf member extendingbetween said side members and having downturned side flanges thereon, laplurality of tangs on each of said. side members intermediate thevertical edges thereof and integral therewith and extending outwardlytherefrom toward the other of said side members, said downturned flangeseach having a slot in each end thereof and receiving one of said tangstherein for supporting said shelf member on said side members and forpreventing movement of said side members away from each other and forfixing the angular relation between said back member and said sidemembers, whereby said integral tongues and openings and said integralrtangs and slots serve rigidly to interconnect said back member and saidside members and said shelf member and serve firmly to mount said shelfmember on said side members all without the use of additional detachablefasteners and the like.

5. A shelving construction comprising an upstanding enclosing backmember, an upstanding enclosing side member disposed at each of theopposite ends of said back member, said side members extending in thesame direction from said back member and substantially parallel to eachother, said back member having at least one elongated opening thereinadjacent to each side thereof, at least one tongue integral on each ofsaid side meminterconnecting said back member and said side members,

said tongues each including abutting means for preventing separationbetween said back member and said side member corresponding to thetongue in a direction perpendioular to said back member, a shelf memberextending between said side members and having downturned rear and sideflanges thereon, a resilient-clip integral on said back member andextending upwardly therealong for receiving and supporting the loweredge of said rear flange and for resiliently gripping said rear flangebetween said back member and said clip, and'at least one tang integralon each of said side members intermediate the vertical edges thereof andextending outwardly therefrom toward the other of said side members,said side flanges having at least one slot in each end thereof andreceiving one of said tangs therein for supporting said shelf member theangular relation between said back member and said side members, wherebysaid integral tongues and openings and said integral clip and saidintegral tangs and slots serve rigidly to interconnect said back memberand Said side members and said shelf member and serve firmly to mountsaid shelf member on said back member and said side members all withoutthe use of additional detachable fasteners and the like.

6. The shelving construction set forth in claim 5, wherein each of saidtangs is struck from the associated side member and includes a supportportion disposed substantially perpendicular to said side member andextending toward the opposite one of said side members, a retainingportion integral with the outer end of said support portion and disposedin a plane substantially parallel to said side member, said slots beingshaped to receive said support portions therein, and said clip is struckfrom said back member.

7, A shelving construction comprising an upstanding enclosing backmember, an upstanding enclosing side member disposed at each of theopposite ends of said back member, said side members extending in thesame direction from said back member and substantially parallel to eachother, said back member having at least one elongated opening thereinadjacent to each side edge thereof, at least one tongue integral on eachof said side members, said tongues being disposed in said openings forinterconnecting said back member and said side members, said tongueseach including abutting means engaging said back member for preventingseparation between said back member and said side member correspondingto I said tongue in a direction perpendicular to saidback member, ashelf member extending between said side members and having downturnedflanges thereon, a plurality of rtangs integral on each of said sidemembers intermediate the vertical edges thereof and extending outwardlytherefrom toward the other of said side members, said tangs beingarranged in two substantially vertical rows disposed respectivelyadjacent to the front and rear edges of said side members, saiddownturned flanges having a slot therein adjacent to the front edgethereof at each side thereof and a slot therein adjacent to the rearedge thereof on each side thereof, each slot receiving one of said tangstherein for supporting said shelf members on said side members and forpreventing movement of said side members away from each other and forfixing the angular relation between said back member and said sidemembers, a base member disposed between said side members at the bottomthereof and having side flanges thereon extending rearwardly therefrom,said side flanges having slots therein each receiving one of said tangstherein for interconnecting said base member and said side members andfor preventing movement of said side members away from each other,whereby said integral tongues and openings and said integral tangs andslots serve rigidly to interconnect said back member and said sidemembers and said base member and serve firmly to mount said shelf memberon said side members all without the use of additional detachablefasteners and the like.

References Cited in the file of this patent Great Britain July 20, 1955

1. A SHELVING CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING AN UPSTANDING ENCLOSING BACKMEMBER, AN UPSTANDING ENCLOSING SIDE MEMBER DISPOSED AT EACH OF THEOPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID BACK MEMBER, SAID SIDE MEMBERS EXTENDING IN THESAME DIRECTION FROM SAID BACK MEMBER AND SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO EACHOTHER, SAID BACK MEMBER HAVING AT LEAST ONE ELONGATED OPENING THEREINADJACENT TO EACH SIDE EDGE THEREOF, AT LEAST ONE TONGUE INTEGRAL ON EACHOF SAID SIDE MEMBERS, SAID TONGUES BEING DISPOSED IN SAID OPENINGS FORINTERCONNECTING SAID BACK MEMBER AND SAID SIDE MEMBERS, SAID TONGUESEACH INCLUDING ABUTTING MEANS ENGAGING SAID BACK MEMBER FOR PREVENTINGSEPARATION BETWEEN SAID SIDE MEMBERS AND SAID BACK MEMBERS IN ADIRECTION PERPENDICULAR TO SAID BACK MEMBER, A SHELF MEMBER EXTENDINGBETWEEN SAID SIDE MEMBERS AND HAVING DOWNTURNED SIDE FLANGES THEREON,AND AT LEAST ONE TANG INTEGRAL ON EACH OF SAID SIDE MEMBERS INTERMEDIATETHE VERTICAL EDGES THEREOF AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY THEREFROM TOWARD THEOTHER OF SAID SIDE MEMBERS, SAID DOWNTURNED SIDE FLANGES EACH HAVING ASLOT IN EACH END THEREOF AND RECEIVING ONE OF SAID TANGS THEREIN FORSUPPORTING SAID SHELF MEMBER ON SAID SIDE MEMBERS AND FOR PREVENTINGMOVEMENT OF SAID SIDE MEMBERS AWAY FROM EACH OTHER AND FOR FIXING THEANGULAR RELATION BETWEEN SAID BACK MEMBER AND SAID SIDE MEMBERS WHEREBYSAID INTEGRAL TONGUES AND OPENINGS AND SAID INTEGRAL TANGS AND SLOTSSERVE RIGIDLY TO INTERCONNECT SAID BACK MEMBER AND SAID SIDE MEMBERS ANDSAID SHELF MEMBER AND SERVE FIRMLY TO MOUNT SAID SHELF MEMBER ON SAIDSIDE MEMBERS ALL WITHOUT THE USE OF ADDITIONAL DETACHABLE FASTENERS ANDTHE LIKE.